CN101142356B

CN101142356B - Wetting process for the laundry inside a program-controlled washing machine and the washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN101142356B
Application number: CN2006800086631A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G·奇热夫斯基; I·舒尔策
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2005-03-17
Filing date: 2006-01-03
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-03
Also published as: US20080189875A1; EP1861537A1; ES2702345T3; CN101142356A; WO2006097362A1; EP1861537B1; DE102005012426A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wetting process for the laundry (7) inside a program-controlled washing machine that can be adjusted to the amount of laundry in a washing drum (2), which is mounted inside a washing machine tub (1) in a manner that enables it to rotate about a non-vertical axis (3), by means of a water supply system (8 to 11) and of a control device (12), via which the supply of water into the washing machine tub (1) can be controlled in a temporal manner. In addition, the wetting process starts in a first phase (Ph1) with a supply of a first metered amount of water into the washing machine tub (1) when the washing drum (2) is stationary or continuously rotating. The aim of the invention is to provide a wetting process of the aforementioned type that is optimized with regard tocompleteness, uniformity, and reproducibility. To this end, the washing drum (2) rotates in the first phase (PM) at least in a continual manner with the supply of water until an at least approximate agreement between the set and actual quantity of water inside the washing machine tub (1) occurs based on the measurement signals of a water level sensor (15), and it rotates in a second phase (Ph2) at least in an essentially continual manner. Water is additionally supplied until the level in the washing machine tub (1) has reached a certain water level during filling and subsequent absorption based on the signal progression of the water level sensor (15) identified in the first phase (Ph1) with regard to the maximum height and rate of change of the water level (N) and with regard to falling back due to subsequent absorption of water by the laundry (7), or based on a signal progression of the water level sensor (15) identified by an expert system within the second phase (Ph2). This enablesthe wetting process with the number and formation of individual phases to be adjusted to the amount and the specific absorbency of the laundry (7) to be washed.

Description

Wetting process for laundry in a program-controlled washing machine and corresponding washing machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a wetting process for laundry in a program-controlled washing machine, which can be coordinated with the amount of laundry in a washing drum, which is mounted in a lye container so as to be rotatable about a non-vertical axis, by means of a water supply system and a control device, by means of which the supply of water into the lye container can be controlled over time, and which, in a first phase, starts the supply of a first measured amount of water into the lye container with the washing drum stationary or continuously rotating.

The invention further relates to a washing machine comprising a lye container having a washing drum which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a non-vertical axis, a water supply system and a control device, by means of which the supply of water into the lye container can be controlled in time, as well as a device for measuring the water level in the lye container.

Background

Such a wetting process and such a washing machine are known from WO 2004/015187 a 1. The washing machine has a device for determining the amount of laundry loaded into the drum, an adjustable fresh water injection device and a measuring device for the amount of water injected, and a control device for influencing the movement of the loaded drum, according to which, in a first step, fresh water is first injected into the drum of the washing machine, which is driven in a speed-controlled manner, in an amount that is adapted to the determined amount of laundry loaded. After reaching and determining the quantity of fresh water to be injected in the lye container, which quantity is dependent on the absorption capacity, in the first phase, the drum is driven in sections and in a reversing manner for a predetermined first time in successive phases at a rotational speed suitable for washing. Then, the drum is stopped and/or driven continuously and in one direction for a second time at a rotation speed suitable for wetting the laundry. The necessary quantity of washing liquid required for the subsequent washing phase is only determined if the drum is driven in sections and in a reversal manner at a speed of rotation suitable for the washing after the predetermined second time has elapsed.

According to WO 2006/018382 a1, which is not previously published, the wetting process in a washing machine is divided into as many stages as there are orders of magnitude set for the laundry to be treated. In this way, the amount of laundry to be treated can be estimated at each stage of the wetting process in order to adapt the further course of the wetting process to this.

According to DE 4122307 a1, the water supply to the washing machine is first carried out with the washing drum at a standstill to a predetermined level and the amount of water absorbed by the items of laundry is observed. Additional water is then added as observed with the washing drum rotating.

When the water quantity required for washing is adapted in a program-controlled washing machine, the wetting process should first be optimized in such a way that the respective laundry batch is completely and uniformly wetted in the shortest possible time before the actual washing process begins, with the water quantity adapted to this for each laundry quantity and each textile type and for the water quantity in the lye container.

The wetting phase disclosed hitherto accelerates the penetration of the laundry by the lye container by means of a predetermined, own reversal rhythm of the washing drum for different laundry quantities when the rotational speed of the drum is reduced or by means of a priming of the lye container when the washing drum is stationary, the washing drum is then continuously rotated in the intake direction and, immediately thereafter, in the wetting phase of the spin-drying phase, which is described above or additionally switched on.

The other wetting phases are preset with different sequences of the rest time of the washing drum, unidirectional or reversing drum movement at low rotational speeds and possibly a reduced reversing rhythm.

The soaking processes disclosed hitherto may not be satisfactory in terms of optimization of the process flow. In particular, the soaking process disclosed hardly allows for practically different sizes of laundry batches, so that complete soaking is not possible in the case of very large laundry batches (close to the load limit), but rather the soaking phase lasts too long compared to the soaking result in the case of small laundry batches. Furthermore, in the disclosed wetting process, the uniformity of wetting is generally unsatisfactory.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a wetting process in such a way that the uniformity of wetting is satisfactory for any batch of laundry, and at the same time the wetting process is automatically adapted to the laundry quantity of the batch of laundry in such a way that the laundry is wetted with an optimum quantity of water or lye in the case of uniform wetting, in order to thus be able to carry out the washing process successfully.

In order to achieve the object described above, the invention proposes a wetting process for laundry in a program-controlled washing machine, which can be coordinated with the amount of laundry in a washing drum which is mounted in a lye container so as to be rotatable about a non-vertical axis by means of a water feed system and a control device, by means of which the feed of water into the lye container can be controlled over time, and which, in a first phase, with the washing drum stationary or continuously rotating, starts a first measured water amount into the lye container, and in which, in a first phase, the washing drum is driven at least substantially continuously until the fed water is absorbed by the laundry, and in a second phase, is driven at least substantially continuously and is filled with a further water amount until, depending on the maximum height and the rate of change with respect to the water level identified in the first phase and on the rate of change of the water level, and on the rate of change of the water level identified in the first phase The liquid level is determined with respect to the water level profile of the fall back of the liquid level occurring as a result of the reabsorption of water by the laundry, whereby the liquid level in the lye container reaches a level which is adapted at and after the refilling according to the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase with respect to the water level and the water level profile of the fall back of the water level occurring as a result of the reabsorption of the laundry.

The invention also provides a washing machine comprising a lye container with a washing drum rotatably mounted about a non-vertical axis, a water inlet system and a control device by means of which the inlet of water into the lye container can be controlled in time, and means for measuring the water level in the lye container, characterized in that: the device for measuring the water level comprises a time measuring device for determining the duration of the opening of the inlet valve, the control device being programmed to control the wetting process for the laundry located in the washing drum in such a way that the washing drum is driven in a first phase with and after the input of the first measured water quantity at least substantially continuously until the input water is absorbed by the laundry and in a second phase is driven at least substantially continuously and with a further water quantity up to a liquid level determined on the basis of the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase with respect to the water level and the water level profile of the fall back of the liquid level occurring as a result of the reabsorption of the water by the laundry, whereby the liquid level in the lye container reaches a liquid level at the time of refilling which is determined on the basis of the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase with respect to the water level and the water level profile of the fall back of the water level occurring as a result of the reabsorption of the laundry And a water level adapted thereafter.

I.e. the observation and analysis process proposed according to the invention of the parameters of the wetting process in progress, allows the corresponding steps of the process to be adapted to the type and amount of the current laundry batch.

In a configuration of the invention, at least one of the two phases comprises at least one time period in which the washing drum is driven in a reversing manner, while the water level variation curve has no direct influence on the control of the water input. In this way, a shortening of the wetting process is achieved, since the laundry to be treated is temporarily deposited in the drum more quickly, so that in the following continuous rotation in the suction direction, a new region of the laundry batch is wetted by the quantity of water drawn. Thereby also improving the uniformity of wetting.

The intensity of the wetting is very high above all when, according to an advantageous configuration, the direction of continuous rotation of the washing drum corresponds to the direction of action of the scooping means arranged in the washing drum.

Advantageously, the measuring signal determined by the water level profile during a period with continuous washing drum rotation and/or during a period with reversed drum rotation is fed to an electric filter with an algorithm adapted to the wetting process and the water input is controlled using the output signal of the filter. I.e. it can then already be determined by the current situation during this period: if a further quantity of water is required to strongly wet the laundry, the required input quantity can be determined or supplied early.

Said period of time advantageously continues with the washing drum continuously rotating until a predetermined level of liquid is reached after absorption by the laundry. The next phase can then either be started directly or the washing process can be started.

In order to determine the attainment of a predetermined liquid level, a device for measuring the water level can be provided, which comprises a time measuring device for determining the duration of opening of the inlet valve or a liquid quantity measuring device for determining the quantity of liquid introduced.

The control device advantageously has a comparator for a measured value of a target level for ending the phase. I.e. it can then be decided after comparison with the calculated reference value: depending on the size of the laundry batch, the first phase is followed by a second phase or even by further phases of the wetting process. In addition, in each phase, a stage with a reversing drum movement can be assigned to the stage with a continuous rotation of the washing drum at a freely selectable time of the phase.

If, according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device for measuring the water level is switched to inactive during the reversed drum movement and/or the comparator is switched, a suitable wetting of the laundry batch can take place without the need to replenish additional water, which would result in an oversaturation of the wet-through in the case of a current laundry batch which is perhaps too small for such a large amount of water in a manner hitherto unknown.

Only in the following periods of wetting by the washing drum rotating only in one direction in the drawing direction can be determined again by means of the quantity of input water now to be measured: how large the batch of laundry is. For this purpose, a rotational speed of about 20 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a circumferential speed of about 0.5 m/s) has proved to be very suitable given the geometry of the lye container/drum system.

Correspondingly, a reversing drum movement in coordination with the structural features of the lye container and/or the washing drum having a rotational speed in the range of about 40 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a circumferential speed of about 1.0 m/s) has proved to be very suitable. Due to these preconditions, these two phases of the wetting process can always last between 60 seconds and 4 minutes, which overall leads to a wetting process which is ideally optimized in terms of time. The given time is dependent on the size and absorption capacity of the respective laundry batch and can be adapted accordingly.

Drawings

The configuration of the washing machine according to the invention and the method steps suitable for this configuration are described in detail below with the aid of one embodiment of the wetting process. Wherein,

figure 1 shows a graph of the wetting process for large laundry batches,

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the parts of a washing machine which are important for the invention, in which the wetting process according to fig. 1 is applied.

Detailed Description

The wetting process shown in fig. 1 is explained with the proviso that at least similar to the washing machine of fig. 2 with a lye container 1, a washing drum 2 is supported in the lye container and can be driven by a drive motor 14. According to a relatively new ergonomic knowledge when operating such a washing machine, the axis of rotation 3 of the washing drum 2 is directed forward and upward at a small angle (e.g. 13 °) from the horizontal, thereby making it easier for the user of the washing machine to reach and see the interior of the washing drum 2. Furthermore, by means of this arrangement, in conjunction with the specially shaped laundry carrier 4 and the suction device 5 for the lye 6, an increased penetration of the laundry 7 with lye and a reduction of the so-called free-wash liquor are also achieved in the direction of rotation of the arrow 16, the quantity of wash lye in the lye container 1 which is not absorbed by the laundry and which is located substantially below the lowest point of the washing drum 2 in the lye container being referred to as free-wash liquor. Irrespective of this modern design, the wetting process can of course also be used advantageously in conventional designs.

The washing machine also has a lye supply system which comprises a water connection for the domestic water network 8, an electrically controllable valve 9 and a supply line 10 to the lye container 1, which supply line can optionally also be guided through a detergent flushing device 11, from which the supply water can supply part of the detergent to the lye container. The valve 9 can be controlled by a control device 12 according to a program operating schedule which can be restricted to the time program and/or to the attainment of certain measured values of parameters inside the washing machine (lye level, lye temperature, washing drum rotational speed, etc.). Furthermore, the lye container 1 has a lye heating device 13 which can be switched over by the control device 12 likewise and according to similar criteria.

As also shown in fig. 1, the washing program is started in a typical manner with the opening of a valve in order to lead water from the domestic water network 8 into the lye container 1. There, the water should be in as rapid a contact with the laundry 7 placed in the washing drum 2 as possible, in order to allow the entrained washing agent to exert its chemical action as quickly as possible on the one hand and to allow the heat introduced by the heating device 13 to be transferred to the laundry 7 as quickly as possible on the other hand.

The rotational speed N of the washing drum 2, the volume V1/10 liters of water supplied and the water level N mm in the lye container 1 are plotted against the time t in the diagram of FIG. 1. In particular the speed control characterizes the novel wetting process. The supply of water, if necessary the supply of detergent and the control of the heating device 13 are carried out according to the prior art. The wetting process, which is stored entirely in the program, comprises two phases Ph1 and Ph2, wherein the phase Ph2 is switched in or shielded as required. If the wetting in the phases Ph1 and Ph2 is still not sufficient, a further phase Ph3 is optionally also followed (see also below). The wetting process is followed by a washing process W which, in the known form of a reversing drum movement, continues at a peripheral speed of approximately 1.25 m/s.

In phase Ph1, drum 2 is set in motion after a sufficient amount of liquid has been introduced (e.g. 2 liters of water with detergent added if necessary). The drum is moved in one direction only (period a)_D1) To be precise in the direction in which the scooping device 5 on the washing drum 2 acts as intended (arrow 16). With a washing drum geometry which is selected as appropriate for the household, but which is not labeled here in detail, the given rotational speed of the washing drum 2 is adjusted to a value of about 20 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a circumferential speed of about 0.5 m/s). However, the actual rotational speed fluctuates around this value according to the respective distribution of the laundry batch in the washing drum. The drum movement is maintained for a duration of about 30 seconds. I.e. until the desired first amount of input water is present in the lye container 1, this has been for about 12 seconds. Thereafter, the washing has been wetted with the drawn-up water.

The value of the first quantity is determined, to be precise either by measuring the valve opening time, which is a measure for the absolute input quantity, provided that the unit input quantity of the valve 9 is sufficiently homogeneous, or by directly measuring the input quantity, for example by means of a flow meter (not shown). This value for the first quantity is used in conjunction with a given lye level N in the lye container which is monitored by means of the level measuring device 15_1-oIs established (at 121) so as to indirectly derive therefrom the quantity which has been absorbed by the batch of laundry 7. The large laundry batch absorbs a large amount of water, whereby a first amount of water is absorbed until a given liquid level N in the lye container 1 is reached_1-oThe input water of (a) is increased more strongly than in the case of smaller batches of laundry. The absorption speed can be measured on a graph of the water level N and is a measure for the specific absorption capacity of the textile type.

In phase Ph1, the washing drum 2 is driven at a peripheral speed of about 1.0m/s after it has been driven continuously for about 20 seconds in the tapping direction (arrow 16)Is driven in a reverse manner. By a commutation period A_R1A good agitation of the laundry batch is obtained and the laundry is also given the opportunity to be further wetted by the already input water. The period A_R1May be as long as one minute and contain more segments than represented here by only a few segments in a relatively short duration. The period A_R1The duration of (a) is essentially related to the selected reversal rhythm, lye level and machine technology.

During commutation period A_R1Thereafter, either the washing phase W is started if a small laundry batch with a low absorption capacity is involved, or the second phase Ph2 is started if, as shown here, a larger laundry batch is involved which can absorb relatively much water.

The invention utilizes said difference in the water level status between different sized laundry batches and different textiles in order to determine by means of this difference: whether the wetting process can be interrupted already at the end of phase Ph1 (in the case of a small or low absorption capacity of the laundry batch) or whether the wetting process has to be continued in a special manner. In the case of small washing batches, the first quantity of input water is perhaps only sucked up almost completely (with the exception of the remaining free washing liquid), since the entire washing batch comes into contact with the input water with little delay and the first quantity is already sufficiently large for small washing batches. If the laundry batch is identified as small in this way, which can be identified by the fact that the fill level N drops only slightly, except for the height of the volume profile V, towards the end of the phase Ph1, the field immediately transitions to the washing process W.

As long as it has been determined in the manner explained before according to the preconditions: the batch of laundry to be treated is so large that the lye level N reached in said phase Ph1 is not yet sufficient to completely wet the laundry, a second phase Ph2 of the wetting process is started. That is, in the graph, the liquid level line N drops below the volume line V towards the end of phase Ph 1. This means that so much water is absorbed in the laundry that the liquid level N drops below a level which corresponds to the inflowing volume V when the water is in the lye container 1 without absorption effect.

The second phase Ph2 is now in the first period A_D2And a continuous drum movement with a rotational speed in the direction of rotation 16 around 20 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a circumferential speed of about 0.5 m/s) begins, since the first phase has ended with a continuous rotation. In this time interval, a time interval (not shown) with a commutation phase of about 40 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a peripheral speed of about 1.0 m/s) can also be inserted, if desired. In addition, individual short spin-drying sections can also be inserted during this time period in order to better saturate the laundry with newly absorbed liquid.

This period A in phase Ph2_D2In which water is supplied in a predetermined amount. Within phase Ph2, the time period A with continuous washing drum rotation_D2During and/or after a period A of drum rotation with reversal_R2During this time, the signal output by the water level sensor 15 is supplied to a filter, not shown in particular, contained in the control device 12 in an algorithm adapted to the wetting process and the control of the water input takes place using the output signal of the filter. I.e. it can then already be determined from the current state during this period: if a further quantity of water is required to strongly wet the laundry, the required input quantity can be determined or supplied early. Such algorithms take into account the volume of water supplied, the profile of the water level in the respective time period and, if necessary, also the water level reached after the filling and after the supply time and the absorption time and consist in mathematical equations in which the absorption of the laundry no longer takes place at this water level (so-called equilibrium plateaus), which are stored in the filter and the signal sequence varies in a process-and device-specific manner.

In a period A_D2In this case, the washing drum 2 is driven continuously in the drawing direction 16 in one direction as in phase Ph1 at a rotational speed of about 20 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a circumferential speed of about 0.5 m/s), which in turn can be passed through a reversing period a_R2Interrupted and also used gradually in the batch of laundryReabsorbed water (identifiable by means of the slowly falling liquid level N) and the unit and absolute suction capacity for checking the laundry batch 7, i.e. indirectly the type of textiles and the laundry quantity. For this purpose (in 15) the following measurements are made: whether the liquid level of the alkali liquor drops to a limit value N_2-uIn the following, this limit value is taken as a measure for the amount of laundry allocated to the phase. If the value is lower than this, the water is replenished again during the continuous movement of the washing drum 2 until the level switching value N is reached_2-o. As in phase Ph1, input until the switching point N is reached_2-oIs a measure for the amount of laundry and determines: whether it is now (in the case of medium-sized laundry batches) to be transferred directly to the washing process W or whether another phase Ph3 of the wetting process is started. A typical value for the total water quantity for a medium-sized laundry batch may be, for example, a maximum of 18 litres.

The two additional thick dash-dotted lines at the lower liquid level, as line V at liquid level 50 in phase Ph2, and the additional dash-dotted and dash-double-dashed line N indicate: in the case of low or low absorption capacity of the laundry batch, a correspondingly low amount of water must be added to the lye container.

The decision for the transition to the washing phase W also depends on the specific absorption capacity of the laundry batch. I.e. if the rate of fall of the level N is small at the beginning of phase Ph2, textiles which are not particularly fast wettable with water are involved. This is, for example, a multilayered textile having coated or water-repellent fibers or a particularly difficult-to-wet film. However, if the liquid level N, as described in paragraph 32, additionally drops below the volume line V at the end of phase Ph2, a decision is made for a further phase Ph3, in which parts of phase Ph2 can be repeated.

However, if a particularly large batch of laundry is present (total water quantity of more than 18 liters), a further phase Ph3 is also initiated. The phase Ph3 may also include a period A as in phase Ph2_R2That period of time having commutation with rotation speed in each directionUp to 40 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a peripheral speed of about 1.0 m/s). But otherwise the phase Ph3 is at least again as A_D2Such a continuous rotation period with only 20 revolutions per minute in the drawing direction 16 (corresponding to a peripheral speed of about 0.5 m/s) starts and may even comprise a short spin-drying section that is switched on. The level control is also switched on only during continuous rotation, so that additional water is introduced during the wetting movement when required, i.e. only when the resorption is strong. The structure of the movement process and its dependency correspond to the phase Ph 2.

In this phase Ph3, a period follows in which the drum 2 is driven continuously in one direction at a speed of about 20 revolutions per minute (corresponding to a peripheral speed of about 0.5 m/s) and this period is also used for filling with water. But now the lye level N is given_3-oIs the level set for washing and is no longer used to determine the amount of laundry. After a certain time of continuous stirring in the drawing direction, the washing process is started with known parameters. The duration of agitation within the period of continuous rotation may vary from one stage to another; preferably the duration is longer as the number of stages increases.

The liquid level (equilibrium plateau) in each phase should also increase, however at least from the first phase Ph1 to the second phase Ph 2. The lye level, which increases with the number of stages, nevertheless increases the relative total water quantity for large washing batches; but this increase is small and more rapid, a more intensive soaking of the laundry is achieved. However, if a constant liquid level is selected in a further phase, a particularly high power draw of the laundry carrier 4 and a good restacking of the laundry within the laundry batch should be ensured for satisfactory saturation.

If the saturation is to be increased and/or accelerated, it is expedient for the pumping action to be optimized to adapt the drum rotational speed in the pumping direction 16 in dependence on the liquid level or the load. For procedural reasons, it may prove to be advantageous to include the reversal phase into the continuous rotation phase instead of the connection proposed here in the front.

The reproducibility of the soaking and washing action is improved in a preferred manner by the measures according to the invention, since the water is introduced at a defined point in time, in a defined amount and under defined conditions. In the case of an inclined drum system, as mentioned at the outset, the adaptation of the water level to the quantity of laundry loaded in particular in the case of small laundry batches can be refined with regard to the load-related process conditions. In addition, the uniform penetration is improved in the case of large batches of laundry. Generally, the aim is to optimize the amount of water required, whereby, as a result of the differentiation, savings in water consumption should be noted, observed over a longer period of time.

Claims

1. Procedure for the wetting of laundry (7) in a program-controlled washing machine, which can be coordinated with the amount of laundry in a washing drum (2) rotatably supported about a non-vertical axis (3) in a lye container (1) by means of a water feed system (8 to 11) and a control device (12), by means of which the feed of water into the lye container (1) can be controlled over time, and which begins, in a first phase Ph1, with the washing drum (2) stationary or continuously rotating, the feed of a first measured amount of water into the lye container (1), characterized in that: the washing machineThe washing drum (2) is driven in the first phase Ph1 at least substantially continuously until the input water is absorbed by the laundry (7) with and after the input of the first water quantity, and in the second phase Ph2 is driven at least substantially continuously and is filled with a further water quantity until the liquid level N is determined according to the maximum height and the rate of change identified in the first phase Ph1 with respect to the water level N and the water level curve with respect to the fall back of the liquid level occurring as a result of the water reabsorption by the laundry (7)_2-oWhereby the liquid level in the lye container (1) reaches a water level N adapted at and after refilling according to the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase Ph1 with respect to the water level N and with respect to the water level profile of the fall back occurring as a result of the reabsorption of the laundry (7)_2-u。

2. The wetting process according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the two phases Ph1 and Ph2 comprises at least one period A_RDuring said time period, the washing drum (2) is driven in a reversing manner, while the water level variation curve has no direct influence on the control of the water input.

3. The wetting process according to claim 2, wherein: in a period A_D1Or A_D2During which the washing drum rotates continuously and/or during a period A_RDuring this time, the measuring signal determined by the water level profile with the reversing drum rotation is supplied to an electric filter with an algorithm adapted to the wetting process and controls the water supply using the output signal of the filter.

4. The wetting process according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: the washing drum (2) is driven continuously in a direction (16) which corresponds to the direction of action of the scooping devices (5) arranged in the washing drum.

5. Wetting process according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: the period A_D1Or A_D2With the washing drum (2) continuously rotating until reaching a predetermined liquid level N after absorption by the laundry₁To N₃。

6. Washing machine comprising a lye container (1) with a washing drum (2) rotatably supported about a non-vertical axis (3), a water inlet system (8 to 11) and a control device (12) by means of which the inlet of water into the lye container (1) can be controlled in time, and means (15) for measuring the water level in the lye container (1), characterized in that: said means (15) for measuring the water level comprise a time measuring device for determining the duration of opening of the inlet valve (9); the control device (12) is programmed to control the wetting process for the laundry (7) in the washing drum (2) in such a way that the washing drum (2) is driven in a first phase Ph1 at least substantially continuously with and after the input of a first measured water quantity until the input water is absorbed by the laundry (7), and in a second phase Ph2 is driven at least substantially continuously and filled with a further water quantity until a liquid level N, which is determined as a function of the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase Ph1 with respect to the water level N and the water level profile with respect to the fall-back of the liquid level occurring as a result of the laundry (7) re-absorbing the water_2-oWhereby the liquid level in the lye container (1) reaches a water level N adapted at and after refilling according to the maximum height and rate of change identified in the first phase Ph1 with respect to the water level N and with respect to the water level profile of the fall back occurring as a result of the reabsorption of the laundry (7)_2-u。

7. The washing machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the device (15) for measuring the water level comprises a liquid quantity measuring device for determining the quantity of liquid introduced.

8. According to the rightThe washing machine of claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: the control device (12) has a control unit for a target liquid level N_X-oThe target level for ending said phases Ph1 and Ph 2.

9. The washing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the device (15) for measuring the water level is deactivated during the reversing drum movement and/or the comparator (121).

10. Washing machine according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that: the unidirectional drum movement can be coordinated with the structural features of the lye container (1) and/or the washing drum (2) having a peripheral speed of about 0.5 m/s.

11. Washing machine according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that: the reversing drum movement can be coordinated with the structural features of the lye container (1) and/or the washing drum (2) having a peripheral speed of about 1.0 m/s.